Australian trying to make decision - WHV & PR

[matthew_fitzy]

Hi there,

I have an inquiry related to the Working Holiday Visa. I have done numerous searches however have not been able to find any solid evidence or anything relating to our situation.

My Canadian wife and I live in Australia are applying for his permanent residence in Canada through the family class. We have got as far as my medical has been completed, and I have paid the fee's, but we have not submitted the application as yet.

We have decided that we would like to go to Canada earlier if possible, within the next few months rather than waiting here in Australia for my PR to be approved, as currently I am a Police Officer in Australia and would like to eventually join a Police Force in Canada, however have found out that some Canadian work experience and volunteer work is necessary.

My question is what step we should take next. Essentially, I would like to go to Canada on a Working Holiday whilst my PR application is being processed externally (from AUS). If we were to submit an application for the WHV first, would we need to disclose that my intention is to apply for PR (family class), and would this hurt my chances of the WHV being approved?

Alternatively, if we applied for PR first and then submitted an application for a WHV visa - could it be rejected based on the grounds that we had already applied for my permanent visa?

As part of the PR application, we need to prove to immigration our intentions to stay and settle in Canada. I would hope that by going sooner and settling on the WHV would be of assistance?

I am 27 years old, have never lived in Canada before and meet all the requirements for the Working Holiday program.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[computergeek]

If you qualify for a working holiday visa, you should be able to apply for it before OR after you file for PR. The law in Canada allows for "dual intent" and you shouldn't have any problems either way.

If you go on the WHV and then file once you are in Canada (remember: apply OUTLAND, even if you are IN Canada, because that will be far faster) you won't have a problem establishing intent to return to Canada, either, making that bit of the process easier.

With three months for sponsorship, an Australian has a good chance of having the PR in 6-7 months (about 50% are done then - the longer number on the website is the 80% figure).

Good luck!

 

[matthew_fitzy]

Thank you very much for the information, I did not know about dual intent.

I posted my international experience Canada application today, should take 4-8 weeks. I have just applied for a second Police check which will take about 4 weeks. Once I receive this, I should be able to submit the PR application in about one month from now.

The plan is to move to Canada in ~March next year, if all goes well with the IEC application

 

[matthew_fitzy]

I emailed the Consulate in Sydney, Australia asking questions about the process and dual intent rules regarding the working holiday. I received the following response:

"Please be advised that the intention of the working holiday is for Australians to travel around Canada, learn the culture and work to supplement their funds. It's intention is not/not as a means for permanent resident applicants to stay and work in Canada while waiting for their visa to come through. If you will respect the intention of the working holiday and if you meet the working holiday criteria, you are welcome to apply and should write a declaration with your travel/holiday itinerary and sign it.

If your intention is permanent residency, please wait for your PR visa to come through."

I am now worried that this may be denied after filling in the form and answering YES to "Have you ever previously applied for any Canadian visas" stating that I was preparing an application for permanent residence.

Has anyone else been denied their application and can I be re-assured that this is only a general statement?